11.3 Summary

The GEF’s institutional systems for RBM and KM&L are essential to ensuring accountability, improving performance, and fostering adaptive and transformational change across its portfolio. During GEF-8, progress was made in improving core indicator clarity, portal functionality, and the quality of self-evaluation processes, although challenges persist in consistency, timeliness, and candor—particularly in midterm reviews and terminal evaluations. Efforts to adapt monitoring frameworks for FCV contexts remain limited. On the knowledge management side, the launch of the 2023 KM&L Strategy and establishment of a dedicated Secretariat unit marked a shift toward more structured and strategic learning. Although knowledge capture and dissemination have improved—with better integration into project design and expanded learning tools—systematic application of knowledge to enhance project implementation remains uneven. Key gaps remain in systematically capturing, synthesizing, and applying knowledge, especially across integrated programs. Limited interoperability between knowledge platforms and projects, and weak cross-Agency and country-level learning, continue to limit the potential for innovation and scaling.

Improved knowledge use is critical for adaptive management. Evaluation findings show that early risk identification and contextualized responses improve project outcomes, while delayed or narrow adjustments reduce impact. Strengthening knowledge platforms, creating consistent feedback loops, and synthesizing insights at the portfolio level are essential next steps.

As GEF-9 approaches, sharpening the KM&L Strategy with clear priorities, timelines, and a stronger emphasis on knowledge application, adaptive management, and support for broader adoption of successful interventions will be critical. Institutional learning; connecting people; and enabling systematic exchange across projects, programs, and Agencies and at the country level will help close the loop between learning and impact—positioning the GEF as a more adaptive and knowledge-driven institution.